Broken? Darren Bent has been sidelined since February since rupturing ankle ligaments (Image: Getty)

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Darren Bent has promised Roy Hodgson it won’t be a gamble to name him in England’s squad for Euro 2012 on Wednesday.

Aston Villa’s striker failed a Friday lunchtime fitness test to travel with the squad for today’s final Premier League game of the ­season at Norwich.

But the 28-year-old ­insists he’s all but recovered from the ruptured ankle ligaments which have forced him out since Villa’s 0-0 draw at Wigan in February.

He said: “It would not be a gamble to pick me. I feel I am close to being fit, I feel good, some of the ­others being talked about for the squad, some of them are playing and others not.

“If anything, I think I will be fresher because I’ve had a long lay-off. If I get in the squad, there are the two friendlies. For me, they would be massive.

“If I had to go straight to the tournament, maybe it would be a gamble, but because we have those two friendlies there will be a good chance to get my fitness up.

“I’d back myself to be ready. I played in the qualifiers and did quite well. So if I get the nod and can play in the friendlies to get my fitness up, I’d back myself to score goals in the ­tournament.”

Hodgson may well turn to the striker, who was a key part of Fabio Capello’s qualifying campaign, as he seeks to solve the problem of replacing Wayne Rooney in the first two group games in Ukraine.

Third time lucky? Darren Bent has not been selected for the last two major tournaments that England have qualified for (Image: Getty)

Bent revealed: “They had me dribbling through cones and taking shots – and after the first ­couple going everywhere they were all pretty much on target! It felt good that they came, but it’s not their choice, it is the manager’s.

“Of course, I’m hoping to be included. I missed the 2006 World Cup, then we didn’t qualify for the 2008 Euros and I missed the last World Cup, so it would be devastating to miss this.

“If I’m not included, I’ll just get my head down and work for Aston Villa next season.”

Bent found himself on the sharp end of ill-founded criticism from ex-Villa star Paul Merson two weeks ago when it was claimed he refused to go on the bench for Villa’s ­crucial match at West Brom.

In truth, he was never close to being fit enough to play.

But he said: “I knew it wasn’t true what was said, but I just had to take it on the chin.

“It has been a difficult time because it was the first proper injury I have had. It’s been a horrible couple of months. I didn’t know what to do. The first six weeks I was advised just to sit at home and keep the ankle raised and it was tough. Now, I just look ­forward to playing again.”